Staying at family resorts and hotels is always fun, no matter the time of year. But when you add in thousands of twinkling lights, sweet treats, festive greenery, and an atmosphere brimming with holiday happiness, that escape just feels even more magical. Whether you’re looking for a December weekend getaway or a special place to spend the Christmas holiday, here are 14 U.S. hotels and resorts that sparkle and shine over the holidays.
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1. The Omni Grove Park Inn & Spa
Asheville, North Carolina
Guests have been checking in at The Omni Grove Park Inn & Spa for more than a century, and the property in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains is an especially appealing place to stay during the holidays. The Asheville hotel is adorned with twinkling lights and other festive decorations, and fires crackle in the 36-foot-wide stone fireplaces in the lobby.
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Santa visits several times during the holiday season, and activities between December 23 and 25 include fireside s’mores, a yule log ceremony, and a cookie and craft party. The hotel also hosts the National Gingerbread House Competition, the largest display of gingerbread in the country, featuring artisans of all ages and from across the country. Book the Gingerbread Holiday Package and get daily breakfast plus holiday gingerbread cookies.
2. Ojai Valley Inn
Ojai, California
Take a break from the holiday bustle during the inn’s Serenity Season.
Slow down over the holidays at Ojai Valley Inn, where the Southern California resort’s annual Serenity Season includes family-friendly activities, wellness experiences, and other holiday fun. Start by taking a family photo by the 41-foot Christmas tree, then partake in activities like ornament painting, cookie decorating, and breakfast with Santa.
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Nightly menorah lightings take place in the lobby from December 14 to 22, and on-site restaurants host special holiday meals. Begin the day on Christmas Eve with the Jingle Bell Jaunt morning walk, then gather later on for stories with Santa’s elves. For extra holiday magic, purchase a gingerbread house kit or arrange for in-room holiday trees and stockings.
3. The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch
Avon, Colorado
You can truly walk in a winter wonderland here.
A white Christmas is a definite possibility at The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch, located in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. And from December 14, 2025, to January 1, 2026, the resort’s Festive Season of Wonder ushers in the holidays with a lineup of family-friendly seasonal activities.
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That includes family game nights, snowshoe hikes, reindeer and sled dog encounters, and daily fireside s’mores. Santa Claus also makes appearances, and story time, craft sessions, and cookie decorating add to the festivities. Jelly donuts and latkes mark the first night of Hanukkah, and the Menorah is lit each day at sunset.
4. Boar’s Head Resort
Charlottesville, Virginia
Boar’s Head Resort is aglow during the holidays.
Set on 600 acres at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Boar’s Head Resort offers an ideal setting for celebrating the holidays. Its annual Winter Wander Trail of Lights features imaginative illuminated displays like the half-mile lakeside Trail of Lights and the new Glistening Grove with more than 700 illuminated light posts that move in harmony with a 20-minute musical composition. Drone shows take place on select nights, and Santa and Mrs. Claus make frequent appearances.
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Additional festive fun includes gingerbread workshops and breakfasts with Santa. Book the Winter Wander Stay Package for VIP access tickets to Winter Wander each night and a special commemorative Winter Wander ornament.
5. The St. Regis Deer Valley
Park City, Utah
The St. Regis Deer Valley is a beautiful sight during the holidays.
The St. Regis Deer Valley is a magical place to stay at any time of the year. But during the Christmas holidays, tens of thousands of white lights set the Park City hotel aglow, while a walk-in gingerbread house adds a sweet scent to the air. Sit by the fire in the lobby and let the holiday spirit wash over you.
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Carolers, visits from Santa and his reindeer, Menorah lightings, ornament making, and other seasonal fun add to the festivity. The resort also offers ski-in/ski-out access to Deer Valley, complete with ski valets, and is home to the only funicular at a North American ski resort. Make sure to take the 90-second trip from the resort to the base of the mountain at least once during a stay, even if you won’t be hitting the slopes.
6. Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa
Maui, Hawaiʻi
Look for the resort’s Elf on the Shelf each day during the holiday season.
Celebrate the holidays where the palm trees sway at Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa. The oceanfront Ka‘anapali Beach resort adds a tropical twist to the holiday season with Christmas Eve and Christmas Day luaus and an Elf on the Shelf who can be found lounging by the pool and in other tropical spots around the resort each day.
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Sip on seasonal cocktails like a Mistletoe Martini, and arrange for a Decorate-Your-Own Tree Kit to add some holiday cheer to your room. There’s also cookie decorating, a gingerbread decorating contest, and a Letters to Santa station where guests of all ages can drop their Christmas wishes into a special mailbox headed for the North Pole.
7. Marriott Marquis Houston
Houston, Texas
Float among the lights in the rooftop lazy river.
Marriott Marquis Houston is home to one of the coolest hotel lazy rivers laid out in the shape of the Lone Star State. During the holidays, you can float among the more than 100,000 lights sparkling around the rooftop water feature, or take it all in on dry land from a private igloo.
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Running from November 17 through December 31, the Texas Winter Lights event leans into its Western locale, with Texas-style food and drink (think brisket sandwiches and local beers) and concerts under the stars. Family movie nights, virtual-reality sleigh rides, light-up checkers and other games, and visits from Santa on select nights will add to the magic for younger guests.
8. Grande Lakes Orlando
Orlando, Florida
Life is sweet during the holidays at Grande Lakes Orlando.
This two-property resort tailored for multigenerational vacations celebrates the holidays in a big way. Its popular Winter Wonderland Market (taking place this year, December 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, and 27) brings European village vibes to Central Florida, with charming cottages selling local crafts, holiday eats, and seasonal beverages and an hourly snowfall.
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The resort’s pastry chefs advise on decorating techniques at the Gingerbread School, and Santa’s Teddy Bear Tea creates special holiday memories for families. A new outdoor ice skating rink—the only resort ice rink in Orlando—debuts this year, surrounded by firepits for warming up after gliding around the ice. Guests can also get a Christmas tree delivered to their rooms for even more holiday cheer.
9. Sunriver Resort
Sunriver, Oregon
Make holiday memories at Sunriver Resort.
The annual Traditions season at Sunriver Resort kicks off with a tree-lighting ceremony and fireworks show on November 22 and continues throughout December with a full lineup of activities and events. Families can enjoy sleigh rides through the 3,300-acre resort and admire an impressive gingerbread house display that raises funds for Habitat for Humanity of La Pine Sunriver.
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A holiday light show set to a festive soundtrack takes place nightly, and dining experiences include brunches with Santa and other holiday characters. The Pacific Northwest resort also offers a slew of winter activities for families, from sledding, snowshoeing, and dog sledding to easy access to skiing at nearby Mt. Bachelor.
10. Callaway Resort & Gardens
Pine Mountain, Georgia
Callaway Resort & Gardens truly shines at Christmastime, thanks to its annual Fantasy in Lights event. Guests can take in the more than 10 million lights on a seven-mile scenic drive, trolley ride, or a new PINK Jeep tour this year. Also new for 2025? The “Song of the Trees” forest scene blends light and music.
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An expanded Christmas Village offers hot cocoa, holiday shopping opportunities, and visits with Santa, and Snowflake Lane adds faux flurries to the fun. Book a Stay and Play Package for extras like a Christmas decor package that includes a personalized handwritten letter from Santa himself.
11. Sage Lodge
Pray, Montana
Sage Lodge offers fun ways to enjoy the snowy setting.
Located on the banks of the Yellowstone River and 35 minutes north of Yellowstone National Park, Sage Lodge offers a luxe Western holiday getaway. Its seasonal activities start with a Christmas tree lighting ceremony on December 6 and continue with a holiday tea and ballet on December 13.
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Santa visits on December 20 to pose for pictures, followed by the Western Winter Wonderland celebration with country music, a hat bar, and the chance to craft your own wood-burned ornament. Christmas Eve brings crafts, stories, and special meals, while Christmas Day is filled with carriage rides and cookie decorating. Ring in the New Year with the Kids Rockin’ New Year’s Eve party, followed by the resort’s Trout “Ball” Drop and Toast. And you can also partake in winter activities during your stay, like snowshoeing and stargazing.
12. The Wall Street Hotel
New York, New York
New York City is a favorite holiday destination for families for good reason, and The Wall Street Hotel serves as a good home base for exploring it all. When you’re done admiring the Christmas tree at the nearby New York Stock Exchange and other festive city sights, grab a treat at the complimentary Hot Cocoa Trolley in the lobby.
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Kids staying over the holidays receive a personalized postcard to drop in Santa’s mailbox in the lobby for daily delivery to the North Pole, and gingerbread cookie decorating kits are available upon request through in-room dining. Adults can also get in the spirit with the 12 Days of Adventinis, where a new martini-style creation is unveiled each evening from December 13 to 24. Book the Home for the Holidays package for add-ons like a Christmas tree for your room and a chauffeured outing to view the Dyker Heights Christmas Lights or Fifth Avenue holiday windows.
13. The Peninsula Chicago
Chicago, Illinois
Beginning on November 28, The Peninsula Chicago fully embraces the holiday season with a 20-foot Christmas tree and other festive decorations throughout the property. The Peninsula Sky Rink returns for its 13th season on November 22, offering the chance to glide across the ice above busy Michigan Avenue. Festive music and hot beverages add to the experience, and 100% of skate rental proceeds are donated to the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and Hephzibah Children’s Association.
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The kids will want to visit the Candy Shoppe near the front desk for a sweet treat or two, and the family-friendly Holiday Afternoon Tea is offered daily from November 28, 2025, to January 4, 2026. Plus Santa visits on the weekends throughout the holiday season. Book the Holly Jolly Family Holiday Package for an in-room holiday tree or menorah, holiday welcome amenity, access to a holiday library of movies and games, and other perks.
14. JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa
Phoenix, Arizona
Get glowing at JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa over the holidays.
JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa might be located in the desert Southwest, but it turns into a real winter wonderland during the holidays. Guests can build gingerbread houses inspired by JW Desert Ridge’s famous gingerbread village, meet Nutmeg the gingerbread man, go ice skating, eat breakfast with Mrs. Claus, and float or stroll through an illuminated waterway at the resort’s AquaRidge WaterPark.
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Families can also take part in Santa’s Secret Service, an interactive activity for kids, and reserve a fire table with a s’mores kit by the skating rink. Amp up the holiday fun by booking a Christmas-themed suite done up with festive décor.
Hotels for the holidays: Get into the spirit at these festive family resorts in the US perfect for celebrating Christmas originally appeared on FamilyVacationist.com.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 14 US hotels that transform into dazzling holiday wonderlands